IOWA

TITLE III PUBLIC SERVICES AND REGULATION  
SUBTITLE 5 FIRE CONTROL  
CHAPTER 100C FIRE EXTINGUISHING AND ALARM SYSTEMS CONTRACTORS AND INSTALLERS

Iowa Code § 100C.2 (2013)

 100C.1 Definitions.

   As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. "Alarm system" means a system or portion of a combination system that consists of components and circuits arranged to monitor and annunciate the status of a fire alarm, security alarm, or nurse call or supervisory signal-initiating devices and to initiate the appropriate response to those signals, but does not mean any such security system or portion of a combination system installed in a prison, jail, or detention facility owned by the state, a political subdivision of the state, the department of human services, or the Iowa veterans home.

2. "Alarm system contractor" means a person engaging in or representing that the person is engaging in the business of layout, installation, repair, alteration, addition, maintenance, or maintenance inspection of alarm systems in this state.

3. "Alarm system installer" means a person engaged in the layout, installation, repair, alteration, addition, or maintenance of alarm systems as an employee of an alarm system contractor, or as an employee of any employer other than an alarm system contractor in a building or facility owned or occupied by such employer.

4. "Automatic dry-chemical extinguishing system" means a system supplying a powder composed of small particles, usually of sodium bicarbonate, potassium bicarbonate, urea-potassium-based bicarbonate, potassium chloride, or monoammonium phosphate, with added particulate material supplemented by special treatment to provide resistance to packing, resistance to moisture absorption, and the proper flow capabilities.

5. "Automatic fire extinguishing system" means a system of devices and equipment that automatically detects a fire and discharges an approved fire extinguishing agent onto or in the area of a fire and includes automatic sprinkler systems, carbon dioxide extinguishing systems, deluge systems, automatic dry-chemical extinguishing systems, foam extinguishing systems, and halogenated extinguishing systems, or other equivalent fire extinguishing technologies recognized by the fire extinguishing system contractors advisory board.

6. "Automatic sprinkler system" means an integrated fire protection sprinkler system usually activated by heat from a fire designed in accordance with fire protection engineering standards and includes a suitable water supply. The portion of the system above the ground is a network of specially sized or hydraulically designed piping installed in a structure or area, generally overhead, and to which automatic sprinklers are connected in a systematic pattern.

7. "Carbon dioxide extinguishing system" means a system supplying carbon dioxide from a pressurized vessel through fixed pipes and nozzles and includes a manual or automatic actuating mechanism.

8. "Deluge system" means a sprinkler system employing open sprinklers attached to a piping system connected to a water supply through a valve that is opened by the operation of a detection system installed in the same area as the sprinklers.

9. "Fire extinguishing system contractor" means a person engaging in or representing oneself to the public as engaging in the activity or business of layout, installation, repair, alteration, addition, maintenance, or maintenance inspection of automatic fire extinguishing systems in this state.

10. "Foam extinguishing system" means a special system discharging foam made from concentrates, either mechanically or chemically, over the area to be protected.

11. "Halogenated extinguishing system" means a fire extinguishing system using one or more atoms of an element from the halogen chemical series of fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine.

12. "Maintenance inspection" means periodic inspection and certification completed by a fire extinguishing system contractor. For purposes of this chapter, "maintenance inspection" does not include an inspection completed by a local building official, fire inspector, or insurance inspector, when acting in an official capacity.

13. "Responsible managing employee" means one of the following:

a. An owner, partner, officer, or manager employed full-time by a fire extinguishing system contractor who is certified by the national institute for certification in engineering technologies at a level three in fire protection technology, automatic sprinkler system layout, or another certification in automatic sprinkler system layout recognized by rules adopted by the fire marshal pursuant to section 100C.7 or who meets any other criteria established by rule.

b. An owner, partner, officer, or manager employed full-time by an alarm system contractor who is certified by the national institute for certification in engineering technologies in fire alarm systems or security systems at a level established by the fire marshal by rule or who meets any other criteria established by rule under this chapter. The rules may provide for separate endorsements for fire alarm systems, security alarm systems, and nurse call systems and may require separate qualifications for each.

100C.2 Certification -- employees.


   1. A person shall not act as a fire extinguishing system contractor without first obtaining a fire extinguishing system contractor's certificate pursuant to this chapter.

2. A person shall not act as an alarm system contractor without first obtaining an alarm system contractor's certificate pursuant to this chapter. A person shall not act as an alarm system installer without first obtaining an alarm system contractor's or alarm system installer's certificate pursuant to this chapter.

3. a. A responsible managing employee may act as a responsible managing employee for only one fire extinguishing system contractor at a time. The responsible managing employee shall not be designated as the responsible managing employee for more than two fire extinguishing system contractors in any twelve-month period.

b. A responsible managing employee may act as a responsible managing employee for only one alarm system contractor at a time. The responsible managing employee shall not be designated as the responsible managing employee for more than two alarm system contractors in any twelve-month period.

c. A responsible managing employee may serve as the responsible managing employee for a fire extinguishing system contractor and an alarm system contractor at the same time, provided that the fire extinguishing system contractor and the alarm system contractor are the same business, and that the person designated as the responsible managing employee meets the responsible managing employee criteria established for each certification.

4. a. An employee of a certified fire extinguishing system contractor working under the direction of a responsible managing employee is not required to obtain and maintain an individual fire extinguishing system contractor's certificate.

b. An employee or subcontractor of a certified alarm system contractor who is an alarm system installer, and who is not licensed pursuant to chapter 103 shall obtain and maintain certification as an alarm system installer and shall meet and maintain qualifications established by the state fire marshal by rule.


100C.3 Application -- information to be provided.


   1. A fire extinguishing system contractor, an alarm system contractor, or an alarm system installer shall apply for a certificate on a form prescribed by the state fire marshal. The application shall be accompanied by a fee in an amount prescribed by rule pursuant to section 100C.7 and shall include all of the following information, as applicable:

a. The name, address, and telephone number of the contractor or installer and, in the case of an installer, the name and certification number of the contractor by whom the installer is employed, including all legal and fictitious names.

b. Proof of insurance coverage required by section 100C.4.

c. The name and qualifications of the person designated as the contractor's responsible managing employee and of persons designated as alternate responsible managing employees.

d. Any other information deemed necessary by the state fire marshal.

2. An applicant for certification as an alarm system contractor or an alarm system installer shall be subject to a national criminal history check through the federal bureau of investigation. The applicant shall provide fingerprints to the department of public safety for submission through the state criminal history repository to the federal bureau of investigation. Fees for the national criminal history check shall be paid by the applicant or the applicant's employer. The results of a criminal history check conducted pursuant to this subsection shall be considered a confidential record under chapter 22.

3. Upon receipt of a completed application and prescribed fees, if the contractor or installer meets all requirements established by this chapter, the state fire marshal shall issue a certificate to the contractor or installer within thirty days.

4. Certificates shall expire and be renewed as established by rule pursuant to section 100C.7.

5. Any change in the information provided in the application shall be promptly reported to the state fire marshal. When the employment of a responsible managing employee is terminated, the contractor shall notify the state fire marshal within thirty days after termination.


100C.4 Insurance.


   1. A fire extinguishing system contractor shall maintain general and complete operations liability insurance for the layout, installation, repair, alteration, addition, maintenance, and inspection of automatic fire extinguishing systems in an amount determined by the state fire marshal by rule.

2. An alarm system contractor shall maintain general and complete operations liability insurance for the layout, installation, repair, alteration, addition, maintenance, and inspection of alarm systems in an amount determined by the state fire marshal by rule.



100C.10 Fire extinguishing system contractors and alarm systems advisory board.


   1. A fire extinguishing system contractors and alarm systems advisory board is established in the division of state fire marshal of the department of public safety and shall advise the division on matters pertaining to the application and certification of contractors and installers pursuant to this chapter.

2. The board shall consist of eleven voting members appointed by the commissioner of public safety as follows:

a. Two full-time fire officials of incorporated municipalities or counties.

b. One full-time building official of an incorporated municipality or county.

c. Three fire extinguishing system contractors, certified pursuant to this chapter, of which at least one shall be a water-based fire sprinkler contractor.

d. Three alarm system contractors, certified pursuant to this chapter, at least one of whom shall have experience with fire alarm systems, at least one of whom shall have experience with security alarm systems, and at least one of whom shall have experience with nurse call systems.

e. One professional engineer or architect licensed or registered in the state.

f. One representative of the general public.

3. The state fire marshal, or the state fire marshal's designee, and the chairperson of the electrical examining board created in section 103.2 shall be nonvoting ex officio members of the board.

4. The commissioner shall initially appoint two members for two-year terms, two members for four-year terms, and three members for six-year terms. Following the expiration of the terms of initially appointed members, each term thereafter shall be for a period of six years. No member shall serve more than two consecutive terms. If a position on the board becomes vacant prior to the expiration of a member's term, the member appointed to the vacancy shall serve the balance of the unexpired term.

5. Six voting members of the advisory board shall constitute a quorum. A majority vote of the board shall be required to conduct business.